Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half of an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers spoiled LeBron James’s first game as a 40-year-old, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 122-110 on Tuesday in the NBA.
Jarrett Allen scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Donovan Mitchell added 26 points and Evan Mobley chipped in 20 for the Cavaliers, who notched their eighth straight win to push their league-best record to 29-4.
The Cavaliers came out hot, building a 15-point lead midway through the first quarter. Los Angeles rallied briefly to take a lead in the second quarter, but it was all Cleveland for most of the night.
READ: LeBron turns 40, says he could play ‘another 5 or 7 years’ in NBA
Allen shot 12-for-14 from the floor to key the Cavaliers’ interior scoring, while Mitchell’s 6-of-13 3-point shooting paced Cleveland to an 18-for-46 night (39.1 percent) from long range.
Max Strus, who scored 15 points off the Cavaliers’ bench, hit 4 of 8 from deep, with three of his treys coming during a pivotal stretch lasting 2:09 in the third quarter. Strus’ three 3-pointers and another from Darius Garland, who finished with 14 points, fueled a 12-2 Cleveland run.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) shoots agianst Los Angeles Lakers guard Max Christie (12) during the second half of an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Another Cavaliers run of 17-2, beginning late in the third quarter and carrying over into the fourth, blew the game open. Mitchell hit half of his six 3-pointers during the decisive spell as the Cleveland advantage swelled to a game-high 16 points.
READ: NBA: Streaking Cavaliers cruise to win over Warriors
Georges Niang made one of his two 3-pointers off the bench amid the run. He finished with nine points to contribute to a balanced scoring effort from the Cavaliers. Evan Mobley added 20 points and six rebounds.
LeBron, whose four NBA titles include a 2016 championship with his hometown team Cleveland, scored 23 points with four rebounds, seven assists and a blocked shot.
It was his first game since his 40th birthday on Monday, and made James the first player in league history to play a game in his teens and in his 40s.
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with an impressive near-triple-double of 35 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Anthony Davis scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, but after twice edging ahead in the second quarter the Lakers trailed by five at halftime and never led in the second half.